Brand · 3 products · Home Gym
Bowflex
Is Bowflex worth buying?
Bowflex earned a buy verdict on 0 of the 3 Bowflex products we compared (0%), well below the 50% average across every brand on the site. 1 is an "it depends": right for a specific buyer, not for everyone. We would skip 2: Bowflex SelectTech 552 and BowFlex 5.1S Stowable Bench.
Verdicts synthesize independent testing and long-term owner reports; we do not run a lab and never take review units. Each product below links to the comparison it was judged in. How we review.
It depends 1 product
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The Best Adjustable Kettlebells (2026): Four Bells Compared, One to Skip · Home Gym
Bowflex SelectTech 840
The fastest, most affordable dial bell, if you can live with a 40 lb ceiling and uneven steps.
Best for: Beginners and space-conscious home exercisers who prize adjustment speed and price over a metal build.
$ · budget
Skip it 2 products
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Best Adjustable Dumbbells: 4 Sets Compared (and One to Skip) · Home Gym
Bowflex SelectTech 552
The original dial dumbbell, grounded by a 3.8-million-unit recall. Buy the redesign, not this.
Why we skip it: The original 552 and 1090 were recalled after plates dislodged mid-lift, with 100+ reported injuries
$$ · mid-range
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The Best Adjustable Weight Benches: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) · Home Gym
BowFlex 5.1S Stowable Bench
A sturdy, foldaway FID bench whose lower capacity and slow pin adjustment leave it outclassed on value.
Why we skip it: Its 600 lb rating trails the REP and covers user and lift load combined
$$ · mid-range
Bowflex in our categories: Home Gym (3)